Newsletter

Soon we will move from our San Diego “winter” on to spring. Each spring I write to parents about a developmental milestone that some of our “older” students may experience. There is no title for this situation so I will do my best to describe the situation.

Most children are well accli- mated to their school rou- tine and look forward to school days. However, in early spring even the most well adjusted child may suddenly cry “I don’t want to go to school” or “Mommy I will miss you”. Of course they will use their most convincing , sobbing voice to express their wants. My feeling is that children sub- consciously know they are growing up and will be experiencing a change in their life.

They hear parents talk about which kindergarten they will attend, they learn about kindergarten shots, and that their best friends will not be in their class. Not to mention Mrs. Wills or Mrs. Bowers or Mrs. Coleman will not be their teacher!!

Wow! That is a lot of change for a five year old to comprehend. How can we help children through this developmental struggle?

Be consistent. Make sure your child does continue to come to preschool. This may be painful on some days but BE STRONG.

Don’t go overboard discussing kindergar- ten topics in front of your child. Children have a poor concept of time. They might think kindergarten starts next week.

November – December 2014

Well, here we go! The frantic time of year, Halloween to New Years. Why do we let ourselves get so involved in every project and event that comes our way? Is it because we want everything for our children to be “perfect”? Let me tell you, children do not expect perfection. In fact they don’t even know about perfec- tion.
During this holiday season work on teaching your chil- dren about being thankful. Make a “Thankful” list and add to it each evening at din- ner. See how long your list will be by Thanksgiving day.

Help your family focus on the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Share the love of Christ with your community. Donate food to a local food bank. Let your child select appropriate items for the Samaritan’s. Purse Shoebox ministry. The boxes are distributed around the world to children who often have nothing. Be sure to read the flyer from preschool describing the “how to” for filling a box. Due at school by Nov. 21. Our children are so blessed, let them learn about helping others.

Take a trip down to Balboa Park to see the Nativity Scene set up near the Organ Pavil- ion. My adult children still recall this special event! Walk around your neighborhood to see the beautiful lights. Chil- dren will remember visiting special places with their family long after their gifts are opened and shoved to the back of their closet!

Speaking of gifts—friends of mine don’t wrap the gifts from Santa. After all when you “see” Santa’s sleigh the toys are spilling over the top and none of them are wrapped! What a savings of time and money!!!

Our staff wishes for all our preschool families to have a beautiful Thanksgiving and a Blessed and Peaceful Christ- mas season.

March – April 2014

I would like to send each of you a heart felt thank you for your sup-port for me. You must know that your kind words and prayers will continue to be with me in the days to come.

My husband Mike and I were married for 45 years so I have many lovely memories of our life together with our 3 daughters, grandchil-dren and extended fam-ily. God continues to Blessed me with a won-derful place to work, staff that is as dear to me as family and all of the children of MMPP.

As one of the children on room 4 told me, “ we have lots of happy here!”. Thank you also for your generous dona-tions for the play-ground tree and bench in Mike’s mem-ory. This will cer-tainly be a wonderful place to observe the-happy-fun children create while playing on the playground.

November – December 2013

Hurray!! We have made it through the first two months of preschool and most children have adjusted to their preschool routine. Now it’s time to fast forward into the holiday season. Children are easily influenced by the TV commercials promoting the latest “must have” toys. If you want to maintain your sanity you will want to keep your children busy and away from the TV! Here are a few ideas: Plan a picnic outing to a nearby park. It would be fun to make a scavenger hunt with pictures of items to look for at the park. (a bird, swings, tables, flowers, a bug, a brown rock…for older preschoolers select more detailed items). Be sure to plan a reward for all participants.

Do a few simple crafts – make tissue paper gift wrap using paint and cookie cutters to stamp a pattern. Let children cut up old Christmas cards to use as gift tags. It is also “cheap” fun to give the children some of the really old wrapping paper that gets pushed to bottom of your box, some scissors, and a roll of tape. Let them gift wrap whatever they want— toys, books, blocks. Then they can have the fun of unwrapping the items. Be sure they help clean up.

Whatever you do please take TIME to be WITH your children. Observe their faces as they experience to many joys of the holidays. Teach them the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

September – October 2013

Welcome to the MMPP family. On behalf of the staff and myself we would like to thank you for the honor of being a part of your child’s early growth and development. You (the parent) have placed your confidence in us to care for your most prized possession!

It is very important to us that you understand our staff is here to work to-gether with you to pro-vide the program your child needs to move for-ward in his/her life. Your child’s school year will only be successful if you share any and all con-cerns you might have in regards to your child.

Our teachers can make special arrangements to meet with you to answer your questions. You can leave a note, call the school or email (some teachers) with your con-cern. Teachers would rather not discuss your concerns at pick up time for several reasons. One: we do not like to talk about a child in front of him/her or other children or other parents. Two: The teacher must be with other children remaining in the classroom.

As my parents used to tell me, “there are no silly questions.” Please know my office is always open to parents. I will do my best to find answers to your questions.

May – June 2013

We are quickly approach-ing the end of our school year. When I observe the children in their daily interactions I am re-minded of how they have grown physically and matured developmentally. They are certainly differ-ent children than those little two, three and four year olds that timidly entered their new class-rooms in September. You, their parents, have learned the importance of providing a strong early childhood education to assist you in teaching your child.

Here are a few concepts I hope you have learned during your MMPP days;

1. YOU are your child’s most important teacher. Children learn first by example.

2. Be involved in your child’s school. Volunteer in their classroom, get to know the teacher.

3. Set FIRM rules for your children and always follow through. If you have trouble with the follow through, think of this as “anti-teenage re-bellion insurance”!

4. Love your children with all your heart and tell them so everyday.

If you are on to new ad-ventures in the fall we will miss you and your child. Come visit us through the years, we love to see how “our” chil-dren are doing. For those returning for Summer Camp or September programs, we will see you soon.

March – April 2013

Can it really be possible spring is just around the corner? If you visit our preschool rooms in the next few weeks you will be able to see many signs of new life spring brings into our school.

Of course the most notice-able change is in the chil-dren. Each child has ex-perienced an amazing amount of growth, not just in their physical be-ing but also in their so-cial, emotional and cogni-tive skills.

I am certain parents are well aware their child acquires more new skills in their first five years of life than anytime in their future. Our MMPP staff is proud that you have selected our school to enhance your child’s con-tinuing development.

Early in March teachers will be meeting with each parent to share with you, your child’s progress. Pre-K parents will be interested to learn about their child’s readiness for kindergarten. Teacher’s are working with the Pre-K children to help them learn to write their first name, recognize their last name and also recognize letters and numbers.

If you are helping your child to learn to write there name or just “words” be certain to use upper and lower case letters. Kindergarten teachers want children to know how to use upper and lower case letters.

However, the very best preparation for kinder-garten is for a parent to read to their child EVE-RYDAY! Not only are children learning the importance of words but you are interacting with them, asking questions about the story. “What do you think will happen next or I wonder if…” are excellent ways to help your child develop and verbalize their thought processes.

Another fun letter recognition game is to look for specific letters in advertising signs as you drive about town. If does-n’t take long for children to “read” Target or Von’s!

Enriching your child’s learning skill is a very rewarding experience for both parents and chil-dren. After all you are your child’s life long teacher!

January – February 2013

Happy New Year 2013!! Our school year is moving so quickly. Parents begin to realize it won’t be long until their pre-k students will take that giant step to kindergarten.

In 2013 new kindergarteners must be five years old by OCTOBER 1. Our staff has complied a list of important skills you and your child should be working on now in preparation for Sept. kindergarten classes.
1. Spend time with your child, without distractions (no cell phone)
2. Read to your child everyday
3. EXPECT your child to follow simple rules.
4. Help your child develop independence and responsibility. Do NOT do things for your child they can do for themselves. (getting dressed, including shoes and socks and toileting)

Our pre-k curriculum at MMPP is designed to encourage children to engage in activities which will enrich their pre-k skills. This is also a good time of year for parents to visit various kindergartens. If you are looking at a private school many of them have Open Houses early in the spring.

Check the San Diego school website, www.sandi.net, for registration information. Dates are usually in the early Spring.

November – December 2012

We have made it through the first three months of preschool! The separation anxiety and tears of the first few weeks have faded and happy smiles are everywhere.

Now that Halloween is behind us it’s onto the holiday season! I do have some “preschool wisdom” mixed with “grandma advice” on how to survive this most stressful time of the year.

This holiday season help your family focus on the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Find activities that help establish family tradition; decorate your tree together, take a night time walk around your neighborhood to look at the colorful decorations. Even baking refrigerator cookies can fill an afternoon with fun.

Be selective in the number of holiday invitations you accept. Never attempt to participate in “everything”. Keep children on a fairly regular schedule or your family will suffer the consequences of whiny, tired and unhappy children. (And Mom’s & Dad’s!)

If you can think back to your childhood I believe you will realize the happiest holiday memories are of your family time together. So forget the stressful details and take time to enjoy your young children. Friends of mine don’t wrap “gifts from Santa”, after all when you see Santa’s sleigh the toys are spilling over the top of his bag and none of them are wrapped! What a savings of time and money.

September – October 2012

I would like to welcome each family to our 2012-13 school year! Do you know we are celebrating our 35th preschool year? We have several children enrolled whose parents were once students at MMPP. While our staff and program has evolved though the years we are proud to maintain an environment “where children come to learn through play.” Support from alumni parents continues to amaze us. So many times new families mention they came to our school due to recommendations from a former parent. So thank you all so very much for your positive feed back to friends and family. At this time all our classes are filled and we will use a waiting list to fill any openings that may occur during the school year. Your continuing referrals help keep our classes full!

A special request from a parent of a child with special concerns: PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE WHENEVER YOUR CHILD HAS VOMITING OR DIAHERRA. This knowledge is important to the good health of this child. THANK YOU! I would like all parents to know they are always welcome to discuss ANY concerns they may have about MMPP. After all we are all here to fill each child’s pre-school years full of fun, growth and development.